Scars of captivity mark freed Colombian hostages

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BOGOTA, Colombia Their televised releases were ecstatic celebrations, cathartic moments for a conflict-weary nation. Their rebel captors had held them in the jungle, often in chains, for as many as 14 years.

Yet soon the initial joy faded, replaced by psychological trauma.

Colombia's freed hostages suffer from insomnia, depression, financial trouble, memory loss. Divorce is common. One even gets nostalgic for the simplicity of life as a jungle prisoner.

“At first everything is euphoria, eagerness to know everything that you missed out on while you were kidnapped, hugs, kisses, congratulations and warm welcomes,” said Luis Eladio Perez, a former senator freed in 2008 after six years.

“But the days pass and one is left with an immense loneliness, loneliness that is aggravated by depression.”

Many former hostages say they have found it impossible to resume the lives they lived before captivity.

All were held by the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, which took up arms nearly a half century ago and has in recent years been weakened by Colombia's U.S.-backed military.

Early this month the FARC released 10 soldiers and police that it said were its last political prisoners.

Since 2008, the rebels have freed about 30 captives and another 20 have been rescued in military operations. At least 16 died in captivity, some in failed rescue attempts, others killed by guerrillas who thought soldiers were closing in.

Their ordeals have been chronicled in books, including one by the most famous ex-hostage, former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, and one by three U.S. military contractors also held over six years.

Many endured months if not years of being chained by the neck to one another and to trees. They suffered ennui, jungle diseases, and forced marches to avoid the military.

To help them cope, some adopted jungle animals as pets. Birds and monkeys were common, and perhaps the oddest was the pig-like peccary adopted by Sgt. Jose Libardo Forero, who said after his April 2 release that he managed to train it to stop biting.

Perez, 58, described going five months without toilet paper, and having his boots taken away for a year after a failed 2005 escape attempt with Betancourt.

A year and a half after his release, Perez divorced his wife and discovered, among other problems, that he had defaulted on bank debts.

“At times, one thinks it would have been better to have stayed in the jungle than to leave it and encounter the series of very difficult problems one faces,” he said, his voice shaking.

Most former captives suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms including insomnia, anxiety, depression, irritability and hypersensitivity, said Dr. Ismael Roldan, former director of psychiatry at Bogota's National University.

Army Sgt. Arbey Delgado, 43, also saw his marriage fall apart. Rescued two years ago after 12 years of captivity, he says he is unable to bear the confinement of his apartment.

“I want to be outside,” he said. “After captivity, confined to the jungle, to be confined to an apartment is very difficult.”

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